Packaging sleeve feeding device

ABSTRACT

A sleeve feeding device includes a core extending along a feed axis and having a hollow interior. One or more slots are in the outer surface of the core extending in first and second directions. A sleeve pusher assembly is located within the hollow interior and has retractable fingers that protrude from the slots in the core, allowing the sleeve pusher assembly to engage a sleeve on the outer surface of the core and feed it along the feed axis in the first direction. When withdrawn in the second direction, the fingers of the sleeve pusher assembly retract within the slots upon encountering the next sleeve. Once clear, the fingers again protrude and the next sleeve is fed along the outer surface of the core.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to packaging machines, and more particularly, to devices and methods for feeding sleeves off of forming columns.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

On certain packaging machines, such as vertical form, fill and seal machines, essentially all operations are performed on a pouch or other package on the same column on which it is originally formed. On other machines, it is necessary to mechanically transfer a partially formed package, such as a partially- or completely-open sleeve, to some other handling mechanism for further operations. One example of such a machine can be seen in U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/517,116, filed on Jun. 8, 2017, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. While different devices have been developed for this purpose, further improvements are possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sleeve feeding device, as well as related methods and packaging machines. According to an embodiment of present invention, a sleeve feeding device includes a core, a sleeve pusher assembly, a sleeve driver, and an actuator.

The core extends along a feed axis in opposite first and second directions between first and second core ends, and has an outer surface extending around the feed axis and a hollow interior between the first and second core ends. A first slot is defined in the outer surface extending in the first and second directions and communicating with the hollow interior.

The sleeve pusher assembly is arranged in the hollow interior and is movable therein along the feed axis in the first and second directions. The sleeve pusher assembly including a first arm with a first finger retractably mounted at a distal end thereof, the first finger being biased relative to the first arm so as to protrude through the first slot beyond the outer surface absent an external force engaging the first finger from the outer surface in the first direction.

The sleeve driver is arranged adjacent to the core and is operable to urge a sleeve along the outer surface of the core in the first direction. The actuator is connected to the sleeve pusher assembly and operable to move the sleeve pusher assembly in the first and second directions.

With the actuator moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the second direction, the first finger of the sleeve pusher assembly retracts into the first slot upon contact with a sleeve driven in the first direction, once clear of the sleeve in the second direction the first finger again protrudes through the first slot, and with the actuator subsequently moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction, the first finger engages the sleeve and pushes it in the first direction.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the core includes a plurality of sides separated by a respective plurality of corners extending between the first and second core ends, and the first slot is defined in one of the corners. According to another aspect, each of the plurality of sides increases in concavity between corners towards the second core end, and complementary convex sleeve guides cooperate with the sides to urge the sleeve into conformity with the concavity of the plurality of sides.

According to a further aspect, multiple slots are defined in the core and the sleeve pusher assembly includes multiple retractable fingers protruding therethrough at the distal ends of respective arms. According to an additional aspect, each finger is pivotably mounted at the distal end of its arm.

According to another aspect, the actuator is connected to the sleeve pusher assembly by a drive shaft extending into the hollow interior along the feed axis. According to a further aspect, the sleeve pusher assembly is connected to the drive shaft by a self-centering bearing allowing movement of the sleeve pusher assembly relative to the drive shaft in the first and second directions.

According to an additional aspect, the sleeve driver includes one or more rollers arranged adjacent to the outer surface of the core. According to an another aspect, a controller in signal communication with the actuator and the sleeve driver,

The present invention further extends to a sleeve forming machine in which the sleeve feeding device is arranged at the end of a forming column. The forming column is configured to form a continuous sleeve proceeding therealong toward first core end of the sleeve feeding device in the first direction. The sleeve driver engages the individual sleeves after cutting at a sleeve cutting assembly.

According to a method aspect, a method of feeding a sleeve from a forming column includes feeding a sleeve in a first direction along an outer surface of a core extending along a feed axis, moving a sleeve pusher assembly past the sleeve in a second direction opposite the first direction within a hollow interior of the core, a finger on the distal end of an arm of the sleeve pusher assembly retracting within a slot in the outer surface upon engagement with the sleeve, and, once the finger is clear of the sleeve in the second direction and protrudes from the slot, moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction to engage the sleeve with the finger and feed the sleeve further in the first direction.

These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better appreciated in view of the drawings and following detailed description of preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a sleeve forming machine including a sleeve feeding device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sleeve feeding device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of the sleeve feeding device of FIG. 1:

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the sleeve feeding device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1, with a sleeve pusher assembly in a first position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1, with the sleeve pusher assembly moving from the first position to a second position; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1, with the sleeve pusher assembly in the second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a sleeve forming machine 10 includes a forming column 12 extending along a feed axis 14. A sheet of packaging material is fed onto the forming column at a first column end 16 and formed into a continuous sleeve around the forming column 12 proceeding in a first direction (down the feed axis 14, with reference to the orientation of FIG. 1) toward a second column end 20. Proximate the second column end 20, a sleeve cutting assembly 22 operates to cut individual sleeves from the continuous sleeve.

A sleeve feeding device 30 feeds each individual sleeve received from the forming column 12 to a carriage 32 or other device for handling during subsequent packaging operations. For clarity of illustration, only one carriage 32 is shown and the track or other mechanism for supporting and moving each carriage 32 is not shown. It will be appreciated, however, that there would typically be a series of carriages successively drive past the sleeve forming machine 10 to receive the individual sleeves from the sleeve feeding device. It will further be appreciated that the present invention could be used in connection with various types of carriages and associated tracks and drives.

Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3, the sleeve feeding device 30 includes a core 34, a sleeve pusher assembly 36, a sleeve driver 40, and an actuator 42. The sleeve driver 40 engages each sleeve that has been cut off by the cutting assembly and urges them along the core 34 in the first direction. As will be explained in greater detail below, the actuator 42 operates the sleeve pusher assembly 36 to further advance each sleeve and feed it to a waiting carriage 32.

The core 34 extends along the feed axis between first and second core ends 44, 46, with an outer surface 50 of the core extending around the feed axis 14. There is a hollow interior 52 (see FIG. 5) defined within the core 34 in which the sleeve pusher assembly 36 is movable by the actuator 42 in the first direction and an opposite second direction. A plurality of slots 54 are defined in the outer surface 50, extending in the first and second directions and communicating with the hollow interior 52.

Generally, the shape of the core 34, particularly at the first core end 44 where the core 34 meets the forming column 12, will correspond to the shape of the column 12. Advantageously, the depicted core 34 has an outer surface 50 with four sides 56 separated by four corners 60. Each of the slots 54 is defined in a respective one of the corners 60.

In the depicted embodiment, each of the sides 56 increases in concavity between its adjacent corners 60 toward the second core end 46, resulting a “clover” shaped outer surface 50 at the second core 46 (see FIG. 4). Sleeve guides 62 are positioned outwardly of each of the plurality of sides 56, with an increasing convexity toward the second core end 46 complementary with the concavity of the sides 56. Sleeves moved along the outer surface 50 of the core 34 are correspondingly urged into conformity with the concavity of the sides 56 and ultimately the “clover” shape, which facilitates feeding into the carriage 32.

Each of the sides 56 is advantageously formed as a separate wall member 64, with the hollow interior 52 being defined therebetween and the slots 54 being formed by gaps between adjacent wall members 64 at the corners. To allow uninterrupted slots 54, the wall members 64 are connected to a cap 66 proximate the first core end 44 and an end plate 70 proximate the second core end 46. The outer dimensions of the cap 66 are reduced at circumferential step 72 to allow the upper portion of the cap 66 to fit within the second column end 20 of the forming column 12, ensuring smooth transition between the forming column 12 to the sleeve feeding device 30. A circumferential recess 74 spaced apart in the first direction receives the ends of blades of the cutting assembly 22.

The sleeve pusher assembly 36 includes a plurality of arms 76 extending radially outwardly from a central hub 80. A finger 82 is retractably mounted at the distal end of each arm 76. Each finger 82 is biased relative to its arm 76 to extend through a respective one of the slots 54 past the outer surface 50 absent an external force engaging the finger from the first direction, which will occur when each finger 82 meets a sleeve, as will be explained below.

Advantageously, each finger 82 is pivotably mounted to its respective arm 76 and spring biased into a protruding position (i.e., biased toward the second direction), but pivotable toward the first direction into a retracted position. Where the finger 82 will meet a sleeve, a radiused engagement surface 84 can be formed.

In the depicted embodiment, the sleeve driver 40 includes a pair of selectively driven rollers 86 positioned adjacent the outer surface 50 of the core 34 and operable to engage the sleeve passing thereover. Once each sleeve is cut from the continuous sleeve by the cutting assembly 22, the rollers 86 are rotated to drive the sleeve further along the core 34 in the first direction, allowing subsequent engagement by the sleeve pusher assembly 26.

The actuator 42 preferably includes a linear actuator 90 connected to the hub 80 of the sleeve pusher assembly 36 by a drive shaft 92 extending along the feed axis 14. Where the shaft 92 passes inside the forming column 12, the shaft 92 is preferably located within a tube 94. The shaft 92 connects to the sleeve pusher assembly 36 with a self-centering bearing 94. The bearing 94 allows limited axially movement of the sleeve pusher assembly 36 relative to the drive shaft 92 in the first and second directions.

A controller 96, such as a programmable logic controller or other microprocessor-based programmable device is preferably included to control the operations of the sleeve driver 40 and actuator 42, although analog control mechanisms could also be used. The controller 96 or other controller can also operate other components of the forming column 12 and of other parts of the packaging process using the forming column 12 and sleeve feeding device 30.

In operation, referring to FIG. 5, the sleeve pusher assembly 36 is extended all the way down the hollow interior 52 of the core 34 to the second core end 46, having just fed a sleeve 100A therealong into the carriage 32A via engagement of the fingers 82 with the trailing edge of the sleeve 100A. The sleeve 100A was previously cut from continuous sleeve 102 by the cutting assembly 22.

Referring to FIG. 6, more of the continuous sleeve 102 is advanced onto the core 34 and another sleeve 100B is cut therefrom. The sleeve pusher assembly 36 is moved in the second direction toward the first core end 44. Upon contacting the leading edge of the sleeve 100B, the fingers 82 retract within the slots 54, allowing the sleeve pusher assembly 36 to pass within the sleeve 100B in the second direction.

The sleeve driver 40 engages the sleeve 100E and moves it far enough in the first direction so that the fingers 82 clear the trailing edge of the sleeve 100B and again protrude out the slots 54. With the fingers 82 protruding, the sleeve pusher assembly 36 is advanced in the first direction again (as in FIG. 5), pushing the sleeve 100B along the core 34 into the “clover” shape, and feeding the shaped sleeve 100B into the carriage 32B.

The foregoing operation is repeated as often as needed during operation of the forming column 12 and associated packaging machine components. It will be appreciated that while the above actions are described separately, actions can be performed simultaneously where logically possible. For example, the advancing of the continuous sleeve, cutting of the individual sleeve and further advancing of the individual sleeve can be performed during the course of travel of the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction with the preceding sleeve and/or in the second direction when returning to the first core end 44.

The above-described embodiments are provided for illustrative purposes; the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Rather, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, as well as adaptations to particular circumstances, will fall within the scope of the invention herein shown and described, and of the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sleeve feeding device comprising: a core extending along a feed axis in opposite first and second directions between first and second core ends, the core having an outer surface extending around the feed axis and a hollow interior between the first and second core ends, a first slot being defined in the outer surface extending in the first and second directions and communicating with the hollow interior; a sleeve pusher assembly arranged in the hollow interior and movable therein along the feed axis in the first and second directions, the sleeve pusher assembly including a first arm with a first finger retractably mounted at a distal end thereof, the first finger being biased relative to the first arm so as to protrude through the first slot beyond the outer surface absent an external force engaging the first finger from the outer surface in the first direction; a sleeve driver arranged adjacent to the core and operable to urge a sleeve along the outer surface of the core in the first direction; and an actuator connected to the sleeve pusher assembly and operable to move the sleeve pusher assembly in the first and second directions; wherein, with the actuator moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the second direction, the first finger of the sleeve pusher assembly retracts into the first slot upon contact with a sleeve driven in the first direction, once clear of the sleeve in the second direction the first finger again protrudes through the first slot, and with the actuator subsequently moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction, the first finger engages the sleeve and pushes it in the first direction.
 2. The sleeve feeding device of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the core includes a plurality of sides separated by a respective plurality of corners extending between the first and second core ends.
 3. The sleeve feeding device of claim 2, wherein the first slot is defined in one of the respective plurality of corners.
 4. The sleeve feeding device of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of sides of the outer surface increases in concavity between adjacent ones of the respective plurality of corners toward the second core end.
 5. The sleeve feeding device of claim 4, wherein the core further includes a plurality of sleeve guides respectively positioned outwardly of the plurality of sides, each of the plurality of sleeve guides increasing in convexity toward the second core end to complement the plurality of sides and urge the sleeve into conformity with the concavity of the plurality of sides.
 6. The sleeve feeding device of claim 3, wherein a second slot is defined in another of the respective plurality of corners extending in the first and second directions and communicating with the hollow interior; wherein the sleeve pusher assembly further includes a second arm commonly mounted with the first arm and a second finger retractably mounted at a distal end of the second arm, the second finger being biased relative to the second arm so as to protrude through the second slot beyond the outer surface absent an external force engaging the second finger from the outer surface in the first direction; and wherein, with the actuator moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the second direction, the second finger of the sleeve pusher assembly retracts into the second slot upon contact with a sleeve driven in the first direction, once clear of the sleeve in the second direction the second finger again protrudes through the second slot, and with the actuator subsequently moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction, the second finger engages the sleeve and pushes it in the first direction.
 7. The sleeve feeding device of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of sides is a separate wall member commonly connected at the first core end, the first slot being formed by a gap between adjacent ones of the separate wall members at the one of the respective plurality of corners.
 8. The sleeve feeding device of claim 1, wherein the first finger is pivotably connected to the distal end of the first arm, the first finger being pivotable between protruding and retracted positions.
 9. The sleeve feeding device of claim 8, wherein the first finger includes a radiused sleeve engagement surface oriented toward the first direction with the first finger in the protruding position.
 10. The sleeve feeding device of claim 8, wherein the first finger is spring biased into the protruding position.
 11. The sleeve feeding device of claim 1, wherein a second slot is defined in the outer surface extending in the first and second directions and communicating with the hollow interior; wherein the sleeve pusher assembly further includes a second arm commonly mounted with the first arm and a second finger retractably mounted at a distal end of the second arm, the second finger being biased relative to the second arm so as to protrude through the second slot beyond the outer surface absent an external force engaging the second finger from the outer surface in the first direction; and wherein, with the actuator moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the second direction, the second finger of the sleeve pusher assembly retracts into the second slot upon contact with a sleeve driven in the first direction, once clear of the sleeve in the second direction the second finger again protrudes through the second slot, and with the actuator subsequently moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction, the second finger engages the sleeve and pushes it in the first direction.
 12. The sleeve feeding device of claim 11, wherein a third slot is defined in the outer surface extending in the first and second directions and communicating with the hollow interior; wherein the sleeve pusher assembly further includes a third arm commonly mounted with the first and second arms and a third finger retractably mounted at a distal end of the third arm, the third finger being biased relative to the third arm so as to protrude through the third slot beyond the outer surface absent an external force engaging the third finger from the outer surface in the first direction; and wherein, with the actuator moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the second direction, the third finger of the sleeve pusher assembly retracts into the third slot upon contact with a sleeve driven in the first direction, once clear of the sleeve in the second direction the third finger again protrudes through the third slot, and with the actuator subsequently moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction, the third finger engages the sleeve and pushes it in the first direction.
 13. The sleeve feeding device of claim 12, wherein a fourth slot is defined in the outer surface extending in the first and second directions and communicating with the hollow interior; wherein the sleeve pusher assembly further includes a fourth arm commonly mounted with the first, second and third arms and a fourth finger retractably mounted at a distal end of the fourth arm, the fourth finger being biased relative to the fourth arm so as to protrude through the fourth slot beyond the outer surface absent an external force engaging the fourth finger from the outer surface in the first direction; and wherein, with the actuator moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the second direction, the fourth finger of the sleeve pusher assembly retracts into the fourth slot upon contact with a sleeve driven in the first direction, once clear of the sleeve in the second direction the fourth finger again protrudes through the fourth slot, and with the actuator subsequently moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction, the fourth finger engages the sleeve and pushes it in the first direction.
 14. The sleeve feeding device of claim 13, wherein the outer surface of the core includes four sides separated by a respective four corners extending between the first and second core ends, the first, second, third and fourth slots each being located in one of the respective four corners.
 15. The sleeve feeding device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve driver includes a first roller arranged adjacent to the outer surface of the core and operable to engage a sleeve passing thereover.
 16. The sleeve feeding device of claim 15, wherein the sleeve driver further includes a second roller adjacent to an opposite side of the outer surface of the core from the first roller and operable to engage a sleeve passing thereover.
 17. The sleeve feeding device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is connected to the sleeve pusher assembly by a drive shaft extending into the hollow interior along the feed axis.
 18. The sleeve feeding device of claim 17, wherein the sleeve pusher assembly is connected to the drive shaft by a self-centering bearing allowing movement of the sleeve pusher assembly relative to the drive shaft in the first and second directions.
 19. The sleeve feeding device of claim 18, wherein the self-centering bearing is magnetic.
 20. The sleeve feeding device of claim 1, further comprising a controller in signal communication with the actuator and the sleeve driver and configured with program instructions to control operation thereof.
 21. A sleeve forming machine comprising: the sleeve feeding device of claim 1; a forming column extending along the feed axis between first and second column ends, the forming column configured to form a continuous sleeve proceeding therealong toward first core end of the sleeve feeding device in the first direction; and a sleeve cutting assembly positioned around the forming column proximate the second column end and cutting individual sleeves from the continuous sleeves; wherein the sleeve driver engages the individual sleeves after cutting and urges the individual sleeves in the first direction along the outer surface of the core.
 22. A method of feeding a sleeve from a forming column, the method comprising: feeding a sleeve in a first direction along an outer surface of a core extending along a feed axis; moving a sleeve pusher assembly past the sleeve in a second direction opposite the first direction within a hollow interior of the core, a finger on the distal end of an arm of the sleeve pusher assembly retracting within a slot in the outer surface upon engagement with the sleeve; once the finger is clear of the sleeve in the second direction and protrudes from the slot, moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction to engage the sleeve with the finger and feed the sleeve further in the first direction. 